In a dramatic turn of events, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison, marking the second sentence for Khan in just two days. The sentences, delivered a week before Pakistan’s upcoming election, where Khan is already disqualified from standing, have stirred political turmoil.
Imran Khan, ousted as Prime Minister in 2022 and currently serving a three-year jail term for corruption, faced charges related to state gifts received during his time in office. The court, on Wednesday, ordered the couple to pay a hefty fine of approximately 1.5 billion rupees (£4.2m; $5.3m).
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by Khan, declared that the sentencing also imposes a 10-year ban on their leader’s future political involvement. The party vehemently rejects the allegations, labeling the cases as politically motivated and the trials as rushed proceedings in what they describe as “kangaroo courts.”
Khan’s lawyers announced plans to appeal to the High Court in both cases. Bushra Bibi, who had been on remand, surrendered at the jail on Wednesday, while Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, expressed confusion over the timing of the court case outside Adiala jail.
The accusations against the couple include the sale or retention of state gifts for personal gain, such as a jewelry set from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The PTI argued that the trials lacked fair cross-questioning and accused the judiciary of being “dismantled.”
Criticism intensified as reports emerged that the judge delivered the verdicts in the absence of Khan, Bibi, and their legal team. Khan’s lawyers argued that he was denied a proper defense, and the swift trial raised questions about the judicial process.
Khan, in a statement released on his social media account, urged his followers to “take revenge for every injustice with your vote on February 8 while remaining peaceful.” These developments have cast doubts on the credibility of the upcoming election, with concerns raised about the extent of Khan’s sidelining and the crackdown on his party.
The PTI, facing challenges with leaders in custody or defecting, sees its candidates running as independents. The party’s symbol, the cricket bat, has been stripped, impacting voters in a country with low literacy rates.
As the political landscape evolves, the focus shifts to Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former Prime Minister, who returned from self-imposed exile and is now seen as a prominent contender. Speculations rise that he is favored by the military establishment, while Khan, once close to the military, has fallen out of favor.
With the sentencing of Imran Khan and the political upheaval surrounding the PTI, Pakistan braces for a crucial election amid concerns about the integrity of the democratic process.